With snowy days, dark nights, and all things allspice looming just around the calendrical corner, our anticipatory focus is set squarely on cozy gatherings of every ilk. Whether it’s around a carved turkey, a Christmas tree, or a candelabra, cold weather is prime incentive to bring your folks close in celebration of community, kinship, and the like. And since the season of celebrations is upon us, we thought it COLLECTIVELY appropriate to shout out the unsung hero of the living room, the veritable Swiss Army knife of any and all gatherings: the couch. They cradle us on our sick days and help us along on our date nights; they serve as the eager cohost to sleepovers and hangovers, alike. Sofas are the spot for cozying up and hunkering down, and more often than not, they pull serious overtime during the holiday season, from tryptophan-laden slumbers to out-of-town crashers.

A snug sectional is the ideal locale for our most relaxing rituals, and as a result, it's one of the most frequented furniture pieces in a home. And--thanks to sheer size--they're oftentimes the dominant design feature in a space, too. So, when we find a cushiony spot with just the right chemistry of captivating design and undenaible comfort, we can't help but sing its praises. Sectional, chesterfield, vintage, or new...in this installment of Quint-Essentials, we're bringing you a few of the seats we love in particular.

1) Bonneville Tower Mid-Mod

We love the use of repurposed furniture in any space, but these mid-century couches (smartly snapped up by the homeowner from our pals at The Green Ant) are especially striking given their clean and bright modern surroundings. The cushions--a whipped-butterscotch velvet, as we see it--are caged by sleek, geometric frames, and the two settees are perfectly centered around a living space which affords apt focus to a smashing city view. They provide a soft anchor to an otherwise airy room, and act as timeless puncuations to a contemporary space. Full story here.

2) St. Mary's Renovation

We know that neutral colors (blacks, beiges, varied greys) tend to be a safer bet where your davenport is concerned, but we applaud those who can find and flaunt that perfect pop of color in their home's largest piece of furniture. These design clients were a willing pair, and the bet paid off in spaces in this massive-but-minimal tufted sectional. Dusty sapphire and unpredictable tangerine are a knockout duo, to be sure, and the pop of fla-pink-o on the wall doesn't hurt one bit. Settle in for a colorful, comfortable evening. Full design feature here.

3) Art House Park City

Being a restored historic home, the square footage in this stunning spot (perched at the top of Park City’s Main Street) is decidedly on the smaller scale. The massive, green, velvet couch was custom-made to complement the [also custom] wall color, aptly named “Mountain Wizard Green” by homeowner Cody Derrick. The choice flies in the face of conventional—nay, outdated—schools of thought that might dismiss such a large piece in such a small space. In a sort of massive bearhug, the two deep-hued pieces mirror each other and encircle the front room, creating an intimate lounge space that’s both bold and completely tranquil. Full design story here.

4) Sampson ave, park city

Another piece hand-picked by our COLLECTIVE designers, Montauk’s “Jane” sofa embodies the proverbial description “feels like a cloud." Filled entirely with down (!), every inch of this sectional is illustriously, decadently comfortable and entirely customized to client desires. The color, officially titled “luscious granite” (though, we feel it’s more of a “dusky Clydesdale grey”) smartly contrasts with the rest of space and, consequently, the couch, in terms of both form and function, is the true focal point. Full story here.

5) Finca

Part of one of our most adored design-projects to date, Finca’s modular couches are both integral to their surroundings and elegantly un-ornamental. Our designers had them custom-made by a local artisan for the restaurant, and they seamlessly come together to outline an intimate, inviting seating area just adjacent to the dark, moody bar. Supple, caramel leather adds warmth and depth to the space while the blocky-but-clean silhouettes of the pieces keep things cozy without feeling cluttered. Full story here.